Island



(No Model.)

P. W. TILLINGHAST.

PENCIL SHARPENER.

Patented Oct. 1,1889.

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UNITED STATES PATENT EEICE.

PARDON W. TILLINGHAST, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

PENClL-SHARPEN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 411,909, dated October1, 1889.

Application filed December 5, 1883. Serial No. 292,762- (No model.)

To aZ'Z whom it nuty concern:

Be it known that I, PARDON \V. TILLING- HAST, a citizen of the Unit-edStates, residing at Providence, in the county of Providence and State ofRhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inPencil- Sharpeners, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a pencil-sharpener that is designed to becarried on the pencil at all times and offer no obstruction to the freeuse of the same, and also protect the pencilpoint when not in use.

I am aware that Sharpeners have been pat-' 'ented that are similarinsome respects to my invention, but in most cases they possess thefollowing features, which are objectionable:

First. They are larger in diameter than the pencil, and if left on thepencil would be an obstruction to the free use of the same.

Second. The taper is short and causes the point of the sharpener to makea slight scratch or groove round the lead, causing it to break withslight pressure in using, it it does not fracture before removing fromthe sharpener, and it is practically impossible to make a long pointthat will not break easily. The point of the Sharpeners are rigid,causing the lead to bind or wedge itself in the same, and liable totwist or break off when the cutting-edge is not in proper condition.

Third. They are so constructed that they will only cut to one size, andto get a fine point emery-paper or other similar material must be used.

Fourth. Unless made of thick material, the cuttin g-edges will catch inthe wood and spring open and are liable to break.

I overcome the above objections in the following manner:

First. I provide a sharpener with a cuttingedge in one end arranged tocut away a portion of the outside of the pencil, which allows the bodyof the sharpener to fit on the same. The cutting-edge on the taperportion of the sharpener cuts away the remainder and makes theworking-point on the pencil. The

sharpener is no larger in diameter than an ordinary pencil and does notinterfere with the use of the same.

$econd. The taper is longer and the cuttingedges at or near the pointare curved; the

lead is not grooved, as in other sharpeners, and a longer point can beobtained without danger of breaking, and the lead is less liable toologor bind in the same.

Third. The sharpener is so constructed that it is capable of beingadjusted to out any sized point desired.

Fourth. For the purpose of adjusting the cutting-edges a nut or clamp isprovided, which also serves to keep the parts from springing open andprevents their breaking.

The construction of the sharpener is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar lettersrefer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a side View of the sharpener on the pencil. Fig. 2 is a sideview with adjusting-nut E. Fig. 3 is a sectional side view of Fig. Fig.4: is a sectional side view illustrating one other form ofadjusting-nut.

Fig. 1 consists of a body or shell A, made in one piece and slotted onthe taper portion of the same. The slots or openings 13 are arranged toform cutting-edges B. A cutting-edge C is provided in the back end ofthe shell, which cuts away the pencil to the same diameter as the insideof said shell A which fits on the turned portion of the pencil withsufficient tension to prevent its coming cit in ordinary use. In orderto make it more secure a small tongue D'is bent in from the shell thatwill press into the wood, and as the pencil is turned in the sharpenerwill form a thread or groove which will hold the shell in posit-ion. Thesaid shell can then be fed onto the pencil and the cutting-edges B willsharpen the same.

Forthe purpose of varying the size of the pencil-point the arrangementshown in Fig. 2 is used. This consists of a body A, preferably made intwo pieces and secured in a ferrule or collar A. A nut E is provided,having openings for the passage of the shavings, and screws on the saidbody A. A portion of the nut encircles the sharpener near the point anddraws the two parts together when screwed up and will allow them toseparate when the said nut is loosened. It also prevents the said partsof the shellA from springing open when sharpening the pencihand they areless liable to break off.

Fig. 4 illustrates one other form of nut and method of applying thesame. A part of the taper portion of the shell is provided with a threador its equivalent. The nut E is threaded to correspond. Said thread inshell and nut is not continuous, but extends part way round the same,for the purpose of making a quick adjustment. The nut- E can be pushedon the taper portion of the shellA until the outlet in said shell is therequired diameter and will be held in that position by turning itslightly to engage the threads in the nut E with the threads on theshell A.

By reference to the drawings it will be seen that the point of thesharpener, instead of ending on a line with the taper portion, is

turned out slightly, so that the shoulder on the lead made by thecutting-edges B willbe curved instead of angular, thereby giving morestrength to the point of the pencil, and will admit of a longer andsmaller point to be obtained without breaking than with other ISharpeners.

The herein-described parts all combine to make an adjustablepencilsharpener that can be carried on the pencil at all times andcapable of making any sized point desired, and when not in use the leadwill be protected by turning the sharpener backward and drawing the leadinto the shell.

WVhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. In a penciLsharpener, the body A, made in two pieces, in combinationwith the collar A, for the purpose of holding the two parts A together.

2. In a pencil-sharpener, the body A, made in two pieces and providedwith a'ferrule or collar A and having cutting-edges B and C, the saidcutting-edgesO being at an angle to the plane of the pencil, for thepurpose described.

3. In a pencil-sharpener, the body A, composed of one or more parts andprovided with cutting-edges at each end of the same, the cutting-edges 0being at an angle to the axis of the sharpener and to the plane of thepencil for the purpose of trimming down the pencil, so that the outsideof the sharpener may be the same or a smaller diameter than the pencil.

4. In a pencil-sharpener, the body A, composed of one or more parts, incombination with the nut E or other suitable means for adjusting theoutlet B to a large or small diameter, as and for the purpose described.

5. In a pencil-sharpener, the body A, composed of one or more parts andhaving its smallest diameter slightly removed from the end of the same,for the purpose of giving a curved cutting-edge B at the point or outletB.

l 6. A pencil-sharpener composed of one or more parts and provided withan inwardlyprojecting piece D, adapted to press into the pencil and holdthe sharpener on the same.

7. In a pencil-sharpener, the combination of the body A, cutting-edges Band O, tongue D, and adjusting-nut E, all for the purpose specified.

.PARDON W. TILLINGHAST. Witnesses:

BENJAMIN L. DENNIS, WM. R. CONANT.

